Introduction

Abstract

The title of this volume is composed of three somewhat slippery words—“public,” “place,” and “space.” Collectively, these terms suggest an image of accessible urban, suburban, rural, and wilderness landscapes. The term “public” connotes the idea that these settings are accessible to everyone—people of a community, state, or nation, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, physical handicap, or other characteristics. In this context, however, “public” does not necessarily relate to ownership, but rather to use. Some privately owned places and spaces are accessible to the public and some publicly owned areas are not.